Cremation

[The Nehor]

I think the body is a temple and a gift and burning it is like burning a temple.

Brigham Young said he was glad the Nauvoo temple burned because they had to abandon it.

some of us fundies in Utah were taught against cremation in sunday school and seminary, that some how, if are ashes were strewn, then god would have difficulty bringing us back together for the resurrection.

I think this comes from the counsel of Joseph Smith who gave burial as the preferred form of dealing with remains though he made it clear God could resurrect you no matter what happened to the body.

I knew an evangelical who was convinced that if his body was cremated that he would never rise in the resurrection. His family was pestered endlessly to make sure his body survived and he lived in fear through his final years.

[thesometimesaint]

As a veteran I get buried for free in a National Cemetery. We just pay the cost of the casket. I don't want anything fancy let alone elaborate. No flowers, I want my flowers while I can still smell them, just a plain simple ceremony and the playing of taps after. Spend the money on a family party and say nice things about me.

[Buzzard]

some of us fundies in Utah were taught against cremation in sunday school and seminary, that some how, if are ashes were strewn, then god would have difficulty bringing us back together for the resurrection.

Then the people who were vaporized in the A-Bomb explosions are gonna be in a world of hurt. Not to mention the dissidents that North Korea executes by blowing them up with artillery, specifically so that there won't be anything left to bury.   

[BCSpace]

I've heard people say that the church frowns upon cremation.  Is this true. I have never heard or read anything from an official church source on this topic.  Does anybody know of any statements from the church about cremation?

 

I don't see why it would be a big deal myself.

 

 

I don't see the big deal either.  I think to worry about it is to forget the power of the resurrection as there are many many  dead bodies throughout time that are currently in a far more 'dusty', mixed, and scattered condition than one who is recently cremated.  Will they not also be resurrected?

 

The current CHI doesn't forbid or discourage it.  Few would know of or have access to CHI's previous to a couple of years ago.

 

My father passed away a few years ago.  My mother had divorced him within the year and so I handled the affairs.  My dad had in the past mentioned he'd like to be cremated. My mom and dad never seemed to waver in their belief in the Church even during and after the divorce.

 

I also looked at the cost.  About $20,000 for a burial vs. $1000 for cremation.  I went with cremation and added the unspent $19,000 to a generous share we children decided to give to my mother since she had been cut out of the estate.

 

My mom did express concern over the notion of cremation, but after the family internment ceremony she was sitting there taking in the beautiful surroundings holding the jar of ashes and came to peace with it.  That was before she knew we would be giving her a large share of the estate.

 

The ashes the now sit in a wall in a jar (I chose one artistically reminiscent of ancient Minoan culture. Perhaps in that someone might be concerned about paganism     but fear not, I worship no Minoan gods, I just appreciate the culture's artwork.) inside an open air public mausoleum were we can visit, enjoy the garden, the pool, the well-maintained surroundings, add flowers, etc. just like anyone could do with a headstone at a grave type of situation.

 

My father's dad passed away when he was 13.  His mother passed away this year.  We imagine that was a joyous reunion as my father now has a mother and father all together again, something he has not had for many a long year.  We pray for the same when mother passes as we believe the divorce to have been a series of unfortunate misunderstandings and the stubbornness of older people.

 

[many tears as I type this]

[SeekingUnderstanding]

I've heard people say that the church frowns upon cremation.  Is this true. I have never heard or read anything from an official church source on this topic.  Does anybody know of any statements from the church about cremation?

 

I don't see why it would be a big deal myself.

The church has definitely softened its view. For a historical view, try Elder McConkie in Mormon Doctrine:

Cremation of the dead is no part of the gospel; it is a practice which has been avoided by the saints in all ages.  The Church today counsels its members not to cremate their dead.  Such a procedure would find gospel acceptance only under the most extraordinary and unusual circumstances.  Wherever possible the dead should be consigned to the earth, and nothing should be done that is destructive to the body; that should be left to nature, “for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”  (Gen 3:19)

[Anteojito]

The church has definitely softened its view. For a historical view, try Elder McConkie in Mormon Doctrine:

Got to give BRM credit, he did not mince his words. I disagree with just about everything he said but I respect his willingness to say it like he saw it.

 

As for me, I think being cremated and having my ashes spread is more respectful of my body than having it pumped full of embalming fluid and having my eyelids and lips glued shut.

[thesometimesaint]

The church has definitely softened its view. For a historical view, try Elder McConkie in Mormon Doctrine:

 

Really? As knowledgeable as McConkie was, and I deeply respect him. His Mormon doctrine is more appropriately called McConkie doctrine.

[VideoGameJunkie]

I still feel like cremation is like burning a temple and that God wants our bodies to be buried. I just don't feel comfortable being cremated.

[Buckeye]

I'm planning on going through the Body Back process, if only because it would get me into space.

 

 

 

The Body Back makes use of a process called promession, an ecologically friendly method of burial developed by biologist Susanne Wiigh-Mäsak, who founded Promessa in 2001 to capitalize on her idea. The promession process was slightly modified for the Body Back to meet the requirements of space travel, but the core ideas remain the same: First, a body is placed in an airtight bag and exposed to the freezing temperatures of space. (On Earth, this freezing is accomplished by placing the body in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of about minus 200 degrees Celsius.) After about an hour, the now-frozen body is brought back into the cabin from the airlock and vibrated at a high frequency, effectively shattering it and reducing it to a fine powder. Subsequently the powder is dehydrated, resulting in roughly 50 pounds of body dust. This dust is then stored in a container outside the craft until it is time to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, at which point it would be retrieved and stored in the cabin for the few minutes it takes to descend to the Earth’s surface from space.

 

http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2015/04/death_in_space_the_ethics_of_dealing_with_astronauts_bodies.html

 

 

Edit to add: There is also liquification (http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-14114555)

 

And everyone's favorite: gemstones made out of cremated remains (http://www.cremationsolutions.com/c4/Cremation-Diamonds-Made-From-Ashes-c39.html).

 

Perhaps some day I'll have this talk with my daughter:

 

Buckeye: Sweetie, Grandma wanted you to have her ring for your wedding.

 

Little Buckeye: That's amazing! So this was Grandma's ring and now it will be mine?

 

Buckeye: No. Actually, this was Grandma. Please don't lose it. We'll need it for the resurrection.

Edited April 17, 2015 by Buckeye

[JLHPROF]

Really? As knowledgeable as McConkie was, and I deeply respect him. His Mormon doctrine is more appropriately called McConkie doctrine.

 

My freethinking British father always referred to him as "wonky McConkie".  Not very respectful I agree, but accurate considering some of his teachings.

[Buckeye]

I still feel like cremation is like burning a temple and that God wants our bodies to be buried. I just don't feel comfortable being cremated.

 

That's fine. But the church has greatly softened its stance so please allow others to go a different route.

[mnn727]

some of us fundies in Utah were taught against cremation in sunday school and seminary, that some how, if are ashes were strewn, then god would have difficulty bringing us back together for the resurrection.

Somehow I can not imagine God having difficulty. What about people that died 4000 - 5000 years ago that are nothing but dust in the wind? 

Cremation is fine with me.

[JLHPROF]

Somehow I can not imagine God having difficulty. What about people that died 4000 - 5000 years ago that are nothing but dust in the wind? 

Cremation is fine with me.

 

I believe it's wrong, but not that God will have any difficulty.  I just think God has prescribed burial as the correct method based on his scriptural allusions.  And that his saints should follow that.

But certainly not because of some nonsense about God not being able to resurrect a cremated body.  Everyone will be resurrected (except perdition) and millions have been cremated.

[mnn727]

I still feel like cremation is like burning a temple and that God wants our bodies to be buried. I just don't feel comfortable being cremated.

That's fine, then don;t be cremated, but leave the option available for the rest of us.

 

I buried my Mom 3 years ago and we went really cheap - it was still $8K  Could have had her cremated  for a bit over $1K. She was like you however and wanted to be buried slowly rotting, finally turning into a liquid then to dust.

Edited April 17, 2015 by mnn727

[mnn727]

 I just think God has prescribed burial as the correct method based on his scriptural allusions.  

 

Chapter and verse please

[ttribe]

I still feel like cremation is like burning a temple and that God wants our bodies to be buried. I just don't feel comfortable being cremated.

 

Have you given any thought to what happens to the "body" that's been embalmed (which is pretty much standard practice)?  Burning is nothing compared to having your body gutted like a catfish, stuffed, made up and left as a bag of skin sitting in a box.  There's nothing more "respectable" to the body-temple in going the burial route.  This thinking is a leftover from the Middle Ages, plain and simple.

[pogi]

I still feel like cremation is like burning a temple and that God wants our bodies to be buried. I just don't feel comfortable being cremated.

 

Burning a temple is much less grotesque than bacteria liquifying the body from the inside out into a putrid pile of filth which would make you vomit at the sight and smell of it. 

 

"The visual result of gaseous tissue-infiltration is notable bloating of the torso and limbs. The increased, internal pressure of the continually rising volume of gas further stresses, weakens, and separates the tissues constraining the gas. In the course of putrefaction, the skin tissues of the body rupture and release the bacterial gas."

 

• 2–3 days: Discoloration appears on the skin of the abdomen. The abdomen begins to swell due to gas formation.

• 3–4 days: The discoloration spreads and discolored veins become visible.

• 5–6 days: The abdomen swells noticeably and the skin blisters.

• 2 weeks: The abdomen is bloated; internal gas pressure nears maximum capacity.

• 3 weeks: Tissues have softened. Organs and cavities are bursting. The nails fall off.

• 4 weeks: Soft tissues begin to liquefy and the face becomes unrecognizable.

 

Enjoy your lunch!

 

Or...you could be cleanly burned into a pile of sterile dust to feed the earth. 

Edited April 17, 2015 by pogi

[Buckeye]

I believe it's wrong, but not that God will have any difficulty.  I just think God has prescribed burial as the correct method based on his scriptural allusions.  And that his saints should follow that.

But certainly not because of some nonsense about God not being able to resurrect a cremated body.  Everyone will be resurrected (except perdition) and millions have been cremated.

 

Wait, what?

[VideoGameJunkie]

Kim Jong Il is embalmed and on display for eternity. I think a Soviet Union communist leader is also on permanent display.

[pogi]

Kim Jong Il is embalmed and on display for eternity. I think a Soviet Union communist leader is also on permanent display.

 

Those are your role models?

 

I also question the "eternity" part. 

Edited April 17, 2015 by pogi

[Buckeye]

Kim Jong Il is embalmed and on display for eternity. I think a Soviet Union communist leader is also on permanent display.

 

You're thinking of Comrade Lenin.

[VideoGameJunkie]

No they aren't my role models, but they weren't cremated and we can see what happens to their bodies with see through tombs.

[Buckeye]

No they aren't my role models, but they weren't cremated and we can see what happens to their bodies with see through tombs.

 

Unfortunately no. Their tombs are sterile vaccuums - quite different from what's happening 6 feet under at your local cemetery.

[VideoGameJunkie]

Hmm didn't know that. I just want to be buried with my temple clothes and I don't want them burned.

[pogi]

Hmm didn't know that. I just want to be buried with my temple clothes and I don't want them burned.

 

I think we all respect that choice, but are only trying to dispel some myths.